A Necessary Evil(61)

When it came time to list the evidence gathered during the course of the investigation, he attached the surveillance video from the mall parking lot and the photographs he had taken of the bunker where Mollie had been held. He drummed his fingers on the desk, trying to think of anything else he might have forgotten. There was no room for error.

It hit him like a Mack truck that he still had Mollie’s journal, but had never had a moment to look through it. Something had made him sneak the journal out of her house that day, but he was still not quite sure what that something was. He’d gotten sidetracked when Mollie had been rescued, and then once again when he had to start looking for Frankie, and he’d never even opened it.

He opened the top drawer, pulled out the red leather journal, laid it on top of his desk, and untied the thin leather straps. Kurt leaned forward and slid his chair closer to his desk. He furrowed his brow, turned the first page, and started reading.

At first, her entries were similar to what any other average teenage girl might write. She talked about her friends, school, and boys. But about three pages in, his heart stopped. He reread the words one more time to make sure he hadn’t misinterpreted anything. When he was positive he had not, he jumped up, sending his chair crashing to the floor, and ran out of the office. He couldn’t get to his cruiser fast enough.





Chapter 30




Frankie



The horse farm had been his ex-wife’s idea from the get-go. Back in 2009, she had begged Frankie for a farm. Susan was ready to retire from her teaching job at Henry Clay High School, but she wasn’t ready to sit at home knitting and watching Jeopardy. So, she’d convinced Frankie to buy twenty acres on Old Paris Pike, and they’d bought ten thoroughbreds, thirty head of cattle, and a dozen pigs. Within two years, the farm was turning a handsome profit, mostly from the racehorses, several of which had run and won out at Keeneland Racetrack. The pigs and cows were mainly there for extra income. When they divorced amicably in 2012, Frankie had given Susan the farm mostly because she loved it so much, and also because he didn’t really need any more property to keep up with. Besides, he never could have too many tax shelters, as well as places to conduct his less-than-legal business affairs.

After Frankie had made his final ruling on Collin’s sentence, he had dismissed the jury with his gratitude and a substantial early Christmas bonus for each. Only Bruno, Rupert, Stanley, and Dr. Patesh had come with him to the farm. Susan was on an Alaskan cruise for two weeks, so Frankie would have the entire property to himself.

When they arrived, Rupert and Stanley dragged Collin across the expansive lawn and into the big red barn as Frankie strode confidently behind them. He was not surprised Collin didn’t fight or struggle for freedom. Instead his head hung low and his feet scraped across the grass as the two bodyguards all but carried him. Apparently, he had accepted his fate. When he’d first grabbed Collin, there was still some fight left in him. He truly thought he might be able to escape, or that maybe Kurt would show up and rescue him. But something had changed in his captive when he’d heard what Frankie had planned for him. Which was perfectly fine with Frankie. It made his job much easier.

At the entrance of the barn, Rupert and Stanley released their grip on Collin, and he dropped to the ground as if there were no bones in his body at all. They heaved the barn doors open, picked Collin up again, and dragged him toward the center. Frankie closed the doors behind them after Bruno and Dr. Patesh crossed over the threshold. He flipped the light switch, and the barn was illuminated. The smell of fresh hay and horse manure brought back memories of his time on the farm with Susan. Every now and then, he missed her. But not often. Frankie quite enjoyed being a bachelor.

“Where should we set up, boss?” Bruno asked.

“There’s a table over there.” Frankie pointed to the corner. “Grab it and bring it over here to the middle of the barn.”

Bruno nodded, retrieved the table, quickly unfolded its legs, and set it upright.

“Put him on top,” Frankie instructed.

Rupert and Stanley hoisted Collin up and laid him supine on the table.

“Tie him down,” Frankie said. “He may look like he’s given up, but we can’t take any chances.”

The bodyguards looked around and found a large rope hanging from a hook next to one of the stalls. They worked together to tie Collin to the table so his hands and feet could not move. One more rope was tied around his waist for good measure. Collin lifted his head slowly, observed their handiwork, and laid it back down.

Frankie walked over to a stall and began stroking the muzzle of one of the thoroughbreds. “Lovely animals, horses. Don’t you think?”

Those around him could tell he was speaking to Collin, so no one responded. Collin’s head rolled to the left, and his glassy eyes stared at Frankie. Apparently, he didn’t share Frankie’s enthusiasm for the equine species.

“Such lovely brown eyes,” Frankie continued. “As a matter of fact, I bet you didn’t know that horses’ eyes are larger than any other living mammals’. And, because their eyes are on the sides of their head, they can see nearly three-hundred-sixty degrees.”

Collin just looked through Frankie as if he wasn’t there.

“It’s okay. I didn’t know these things, either. Not until I bought this farm and started doing my research.” Frankie patted the horse on the velvety tip of its nose, walked over to the table, and stood right next to Collin’s head. “Your eyes, on the other hand…you look defeated, Collin. That makes this whole thing a lot less fun. But no less satisfying.” Frankie turned to Dr. Patesh and motioned for him to step forward. “Go ahead and administer the drug.”